In this Church 3.0 episode, Tyler interviews Johnmark Oudersluys, the Executive Director of CityLink Center, for a powerful conversation about the future of church health, long-term disciple-making, and how ministries can rethink their strategies for real community impact.

Johnmark shares lessons from leading one of the most innovative, collaborative ministry centers in the country—focusing on outcomes, not outputs, and helping churches move beyond weekend-centric models.

From measuring what actually matters to building systems that create transformation, this episode gives pastors and ministry leaders a practical roadmap to build healthier churches in 2025 and beyond.

• ⛪ What You’ll Learn
• 📊 Why many churches are measuring the wrong things
• 🔁 The shift from programming to pathways
• 🤝 How CityLink Center is redesigning community impact
• 💡 What healthy churches prioritize (and what they stop doing)
• 🤲 Why collaboration—not competition—is the future of ministry
• 📈 The new metrics every pastor needs in 2025
• 🧩 How to structure teams for long-term discipleship
• 🛠️ Practical steps to build a healthier, more sustainable church model

🔗 About Johnmark Oudersluys

Johnmark Oudersluys is the Executive Director of CityLink Center, a nationally recognized hub where churches, nonprofits, and service providers collaborate to help individuals break cycles of poverty through integrated, Christ-centered support.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Johnmark Oudersluys on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmark-oudersluys-98a785/

Subscribe for more church leadership insights, digital ministry strategies, and faith + technology conversations.

What happens when churches start thinking like innovators? In this episode, Data Strategist and Gloo Executive Matt Engel joins us to unpack the mindsets, models, and split-testing strategies reshaping church leadership today. If you’ve wondered how churches can build trust, engage new guests, or make better decisions using real data, this conversation is a must-watch.

Matt breaks down the shift from broadcast-style ministry to co-created, curated experiences—and shows why pastors who embrace experimentation will lead the next wave of church impact. From first-time guest retention to generosity journeys, to designing ministry innovation teams, this episode bridges practical tactics with deep insight for modern church leaders.

What You’ll Learn:
📊 How to use data to measure real ministry health — not just attendance or views
🎯 The two metrics that predict church growth and why most churches overlook them
🔁 How to increase return guest retention by 12x with simple, practical systems
🧭 Why focusing on inputs leads to stronger outputs and outcomes
🔍 The real stories behind your church’s data — and how to uncover what’s actually workin
🤝 How to use behavioral insights to reach your community more effectively
🧠 How to build a data-informed ministry mindset that strengthens discipleship
💡 Examples from real churches using data to improve outreach, giving, and engagement

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Matt Engel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-%F0%9F%92%A5-e-1994104b/

Subscribe for more church leadership insights, digital ministry strategies, and faith + technology conversations.

Luke Dooley, President of Ocean Accelerator and co-founder of Banded, joins Church3.0 to share how entrepreneurship, discipleship, and innovation intersect in powerful ways. Discover why churches and startups alike must embrace SLC: Simple, Lovable, Complete to build meaningful impact and lasting change.

In this conversation with Apollos COO Tyler Vance, Luke unpacks lessons learned from a decade of mentoring founders through Ocean Accelerator. From redefining success beyond hustle culture to helping church leaders navigate innovation with purpose, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone passionate about leadership, digital ministry, and human-centered innovation in the Kingdom.

What You’ll Learn 
💡 What “Simple, Lovable, Complete (SLC)” means — a framework that helps churches and innovators move fast without losing soul. 
🙌 How Ocean Accelerator shaped faith-driven entrepreneurship — lessons from a decade of founder stories in Cincinnati and beyond. 
🌍 Why digital transformation in the church requires a mindset shift — from big leaps to small, consistent bets. 
❤️ How to redefine success and health for leaders — and why spiritual formation must start with “the who.” 
🧭 What churches can learn from entrepreneurs — especially about innovation, collaboration, and trust in the process. 
🧱 How “Banded” and peer community models support business and ministry leaders — building emotionally healthy leaders for long-term impact.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Luke Dooley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-dooley/

How does one of America’s most well-known churches keep innovating in a digital age?
In this Church3.0 conversation, Liz Schauer — Marketing, Communications & Digital Director at Willow Creek Community Church — shares how her team is transforming digital strategy, creative communication, and online engagement to reach people where they are.

From building digital systems that serve the mission to aligning staff culture around communication clarity, Liz opens up about what it takes to lead innovation inside a large church. This episode is packed with insights on digital engagement, storytelling, and how Willow Creek is adapting to meet a post-pandemic world that’s still hungry for connection and hope.

What You’ll Learn
💡 Digital Ministry Framework: How Willow Creek structures its digital communication strategy.
🎯 Mission-Driven Marketing: Aligning creative teams around church purpose and values.
🧠 Team Leadership: Leading creative teams through clarity, trust, and collaboration.
🌎 Online Engagement: What’s working for reaching new audiences beyond the walls.
📱 Tech & Tools: How Willow Creek approaches digital platforms and innovation.
🕊️ Faith in Communication: Keeping the heart of the Gospel central in every medium.

🔗 Learn more about Willow Creek Community Church: https://www.willowcreek.org
🔗 Connect with Liz Schauer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizschauer/

Subscribe to Church3.0 for more conversations on how churches are innovating in leadership, technology, and communication.

Terry Storch — Chief Platform Officer of YouVersion and Pastor at Life.Church — joins Tyler to reveal the next chapter of one of the most transformative digital ministry tools in history. From Beyond the Billion to the launch of YouVersion Platform, this episode uncovers how the Bible app continues to shape global faith and technology.

In this powerful Church3.0 conversation, Terry shares never-before-heard stories behind the Bible App’s journey from 83,000 downloads to over a billion, the heart behind the Beyond the Billion event in Oklahoma City, and how YouVersion Platform will equip ministries and developers to bring God’s Word to everyone, everywhere, every day. This is a masterclass in innovation, leadership, and the future of digital discipleship.

What You’ll Learn: 
👉 YouVersion’s Origin Story – How the Bible App started and grew to impact billions.
👉 Beyond the Billion Vision – Why YouVersion is celebrating God, not itself.
👉 What Is YouVersion Platform? – The new initiative empowering churches and developers globally.
👉 Leadership from the Inside Out – Terry’s four principles for leading from a posture of being “built by God.”
👉 The Power of Partnership – How Bible societies, volunteers, and churches fuel YouVersion’s mission.
👉 Heart Language and Access – Why delivering Scripture in people’s own language transforms lives.
👉 The Power of Four – The life-changing impact of engaging Scripture four times a week.

Subscribe for more church leadership insights, digital ministry strategies, and faith + technology conversations.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Terry Storch – https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrystorch/

📍For churches in the U.S. and globally seeking better ways to serve their community through data-informed ministry, this episode is your practical starting point.

#TerryStorch #YouVersion #BibleApp #BeyondTheBillion #FaithAndTechnology #DigitalMinistry #ChurchLeadership #ApollosPodcast #Church3Point0 #LifeChurch #BibleEngagement #PowerOfFour

In this breaking news and bonus episode, join Tyler (Apollos) and Matt Welty (Crossroads Church) for a deep dive into the massive strategic shift happening between Apollos and Crossroads Church Cincinnati, Ohio. For over a decade, these two organizations have been partners in digital ministry, developing the highly effective Crossroads Anywhere app.

Now, Crossroads is moving to become a Custom SaaS Apollos user. What does this mean for the future of church technology? The leaders discuss their journey, from building a custom app for the "Brave Journey" to creating a digital ecosystem where thousands of people engage with scripture, prayer, and community every week.

This new Apollos Custom SaaS partnership is designed to accelerate innovation, allowing the wins, learnings, and features developed at Crossroads to be quickly and easily shared with the entire Apollos community and the "Big C" church worldwide. Discover the vision for a shared, collaborative platform that helps churches go farther, faster in their digital engagement strategy and ministry.

About the Guest:
Matt Welty helps teams and organizations clarify vision, align strategy, and grow leaders who move the mission forward. With a passion for creating innovative solutions, Matt is dedicated to building healthy, resilient teams and leveraging digital innovation to expand reach, strengthen engagement, and build community—all while staying anchored to the mission.

🔗 Connect with Matt Welty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwelty/

🚀 Learn How Apollos Can Accelerate Your Church Growth Strategy: 

Visit: http://apollos.com/church-growth

Change is constant—and the speed of it is only increasing. In this episode of Church 3.0 presented by Apollos, Tyler Vance sits down with Ann Eileen Thompson, leadership consultant and former Procter & Gamble market researcher, to explore how church leaders can embrace curiosity, humility, and data to better serve their communities.

Key topics in this conversation:

👉Why curiosity fuels humility and better leadership
👉How market research principles apply to the local church
👉Lessons from business and corporate America for pastors and ministry leaders
👉Post-COVID challenges: community, digital engagement, and change management
👉Building trust and relevance in today’s church

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or business executive, you’ll gain practical insights on navigating change, leading with humility, and creating a thriving faith community.

About the Guest:
Ann Eileen Thompson is a leadership coach, speaker, podcast host, and soon-to-be author who helps leaders lead wisely, live whole, and grow with both faith and practical strategy.  Ann brings decades of experience in market research, corporate leadership consulting, and ministry insight, helping leaders bridge the gap between business strategy and the mission of the church.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Ann Eileen Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneileenthompson/

📍For churches in the U.S. and globally seeking better ways to serve their community through data-informed ministry, this episode is your practical starting point.

Discover how Cedar Creek Church is transforming ministry through Apollos, a digital platform built to help churches thrive 7 days a week, not just Sundays. In this episode of Church 3.0, Tyler Vance (COO of Apollos) sits down with Jason Jones of Cedar Creek to discuss prayer-driven growth, clarity in digital strategy, and how data can empower church leaders.

 If you’re a pastor, church leader, or part of a ministry team wondering how to strengthen online church engagement, prayer requests, digital discipleship, and website strategy, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

About Cedar Creek Church:
Cedar Creek is one of the largest churches in Ohio, serving thousands weekly through innovative ministry, digital discipleship, and community-driven prayer.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
👉How prayer requests inside Apollos inspired people to join serving teams
👉Why Cedar Creek redesigned their church website only for new guests
👉How to use data-driven decisions without getting overwhelmed
👉The difference between what belongs on your church app vs. website
👉Why clarity in digital ministry leads to real-world growth
👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews with church leaders using technology to impact lives!

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Jason Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/807197171/

📍For churches in the U.S. and globally seeking better ways to serve their community through data-informed ministry, this episode is your practical starting point.

#ChurchOnline #DigitalMinistry #ApollosApp #JasonJones #CedarCreekChurch #PrayerRequests #ChurchTechnology #ChurchGrowth
#ChurchOnline #DigitalMinistry #ApollosApp #JasonJones #CedarCreekChurch #PrayerRequests #ChurchTechnology #ChurchGrowth

Join church expert Dr. Warren Bird as he dives into the 2025 Large Church Study, revealing key trends, insights, and strategies for spiritual formation, small groups, and church growth. Discover how large churches are evolving post-pandemic, rethinking discipleship, and blending in-person and digital engagement.

In this video, you’ll learn:
✅ How small groups drive church vitality and engagement.
✅ The importance of succession planning in large churches.
✅ How churches are rethinking spiritual formation beyond attendance.
✅ Strategies for hybrid church experiences that grow community and impact.

📊 Participate in the 2025 Large Church Survey here: bit.ly/largechurch2025
If you lead a church or want to understand church growth trends, this video is a must-watch!

🔔 Subscribe for more church leadership insights, digital ministry strategies, and tech-driven faith conversations.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Dr. Warren Bird - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbird/

📍For churches in the U.S. and globally seeking better ways to serve their community through data-informed ministry, this episode is your practical starting point.

#church30 #digitaldiscipleship #churchtechnology #churchgrowthstrategy  #apollosplatform #everydaychurch #churchinnovation #tylervance

How can churches use data to grow, disciple, and engage their communities more effectively? In this episode of Church3.0, presented by Apollos, Tyler Vance sits down with data strategist Amber Smart, founder of Smart Metrics, to explore how churches can transform their ministries using data-driven insights.

From helping churches move beyond outdated Excel sheets to implementing scalable church data strategies, Amber shares over a decade of experience in church data systems, digital engagement, discipleship analytics, and how post-COVID trends are shifting what healthy church metrics look like.

Whether you're a senior pastor, executive pastor, church data analyst, or digital leader, this episode will help you:

✅ Understand where churches get data right (and wrong)
✅ Learn how to start a data program
✅ Discover what churches should stop measuring
✅ See how data and digital engagement are deeply connected
✅ Prepare your church for future giving trends and generational shifts

🔔 Subscribe for more church leadership insights, digital ministry strategies, and tech-driven faith conversations.

🔗 Learn more about Apollos – https://apollos.com/church-growth
🔗 Connect with Amber Smart - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-smart-%F0%9F%93%88-8251305b/

📍For churches in the U.S. and globally seeking better ways to serve their community through data-informed ministry, this episode is your practical starting point.